How to Locate a Korean War Buddy
A total of 1,789,000 Americans served in the Korean War form 1950 to 1953 and yet it is often called the "Forgotten War." More than 36,000 US servicemen lost their lives. For the men and women who served in harsh weather and even harsher combat, the relationships formed were as strong as those of family members. If you're a veteran of the Korean War and you've lost touch with your brothers and sisters in arms, there are public and private organizations that can help you go about finding and reconnecting with a lost friend.
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Instructions
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Before reaching out to an organization to help you locate your lost buddy, collect as much as information about the person you are looking for as possible. This includes his complete name; the years he served in the military; the branch in which he served, the places he served; the state he lived in when he joined the military; and any other information you think will help differentiate your friend from someone else with the same name.
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Contacting the United States National Archives and asking for a copy of your friend's military records is your next step. Send a request for NATF Form 80 to the National Archives at:
National Personnel Records Center
Military Personnel Records
9700 Page Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63132-5100
Get a Form 80 at Veterans Affairs offices throughout the United States. If the National Archives are able to locate the records, they can send them to you with a bill for the cost of photocopying.
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Look to see where your buddy was from once you have access to his military records. Contact the courthouse in that town and ask if his discharge was filed there. The discharge will provide you with an address that may still be current. If the town is small enough or the name is unique enough, call directory assistance and ask for a phone number listing for your friend. Be prepared to make a lot of calls.
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Take the information from the military records and reach out to several veteran's organizations for assistance. The Korean War Project, maintains records of surviving Hispanics, blacks, and Hawaiians who served in Korea. Local American Legion chapters, or Disabled Veterans of America chapters can also assist you in your search.
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Tips & Warnings
Searching on the Internet for "Koran War Veterans" can put you in touch with many specific organizations who track Korean War vets.
Talk to your fellow veterans and ask if they've searched for someone. If they did, and it was successful, try and follow their steps.
Beware of any organization which asks for money, or personal financial information to conduct a search.
References
Resources
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